To play on the beat or not to, that is the question

There has long existed a conflict in my mind about the concept of playing two or more instruments.  The internal controversy centers around the question - does playing multiple instruments make you a poser on several and master on none.  

That question has been answered by necessity of late.   The answer is I really need to play guitar as well as keyboards to get my soundtracks sounding reliably like I want them.

The interesting side effect of that is playing the guitar is much more organic for me than keys and it makes me more keenly aware particularly of rhythm.

The reason I am even writing this is because my left hand and wrist are sore from playing rhythm guitar and I needed a break.


Well, back to it...gotta get that album done.

Gigging at Sandia BMW

Gigging in Albuquerque

Once again I was cordially invited to perform by a BMW exec. at one of their car functions.  The store in Albuquerque is much larger and was more lavishly adorned than the Santa Fe store had been.    There are definitely some interesting things to see in a dog friendly dealership.

Merry Christmas from Doggie-dom

I even got lights on this gig!

In the meantime that was the last gig for the foreseeable future.   So, I will continue to practice and network and see if I can get any more work in this kind of raggedy music scene here in Santa Fe.

Peace.

Cameron

Gigging at Santa Fe BMW

These gigs for BMW can be challenging to wrap your head around, going instantly from work mode to music mode.  Definitely challenging!

This is how my rig looked set up in the showroom before being

surrounded by cars.

It is kind of  random though, but I LOVE this picture.

GM Motorcycles - Jim Johnson -he got me a roadie -- Thanks Jim

Oh, and did I mention he is a total lying scumbag

MC parts guy Marcus "that will be $1000.00" Madrid

And you got fired too.....

I was having a Zen-like moment until.......

I came to my senses and realized I was in car dealership!

Understanding Deeply

In the best Kenny Werner impression I can master I have been concentrating on one tune even though I need several in my repertoire.  I think understanding one tune deeply helps you understand other songs quicker.

Miracalulsness

I have been wanting to play out again for a long time and I just unexpectedly got two really good paying gigs back to back at BMW.  Thanks HP...

See my Reverb Nation page for details,

Thanks,

Cameron

Finishing tunes.

It is getting easier to finish tunes now.  I am still somewhat skeptical about my mixes, but not too much.  Just finished, at least a good rough mix, or Rio Grande Cryin'.  

Just stared working on the music for an RT video that the editing is done on.

You can stream a mix at Reverb Nation.....

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Obsession

I admit it, I am obsessed.  Which, in my case, I think is a good thing.  I am obsessing about this tune I am composing dedicated to my friend Paul who regular readers of this blog will remember has a son who was recently horribly wounded.   With that aside out of the way I need to say that in my case obsession and focus does not come easily.

It takes a long time to for me to really get in the groove of a project.  In this case it has been slightly easier because I really want to present this project to my friend.  Another reason I am so involved in this project is that it expressed something I was unable to express in words.

Hopefully I will be done in the next couple of days and can post the completed tune.

Video Vibes

I always work better and more productively when I have a specifc project and deadlines.   Ever since I made the decision several months ago I gave myself the task of making an album.    Doing a project of this nature not only gives me some direction, but also force me to work on my chops but also write some tunes, etc. 

The strange thing is that during this time I was commissioned four separate times to do videos for Santa Fe BMW motorcycles.

2010 BMW track event remix

BMW S1000RR on the track with GoPro

Jemez Springs shop ride

Shootout in the southwest

As with most "coincidences"  these assignments turned out to be extremely good for me artistically.  You can see and hear the progression of skill level if you check out the videos from last to first.   Thanks BMW    whoooooo hoooo..........................

Out of tune in New Mexico

Since my guitar playing friends in LA are, understandably so, getting tired of playing on tracks for me.  I decided to dust off my guitar chops and start playing rhythm guitar on my own track.  My trusty strat which has been with me...GASP....30 years now.  It has always been one of the most "in tune" guitars I have ever known.  But not in New Mexico, or Santa Fe at least.  I think the dry air is affecting the wood and throwing the intonation out of whack.  Very frustrating

Analog Music Project Part 2

Since my last blog on this topic I have actually been to Radio Shack and picked up the parts I need to build my first oscillator.  Unfortunately, after several attempts to make it work I still just have a bunch of parts stuck on a breadboard that are doing absolutely nothing...

Frustrating, but I will keep at it...

The analog music project

Every since i got my first synthesizer, waayyy back in the 1980's I have wanted to know what makes them tick.  Now that i am involved in music again in a somewhat meaningful way, I really, really want to build my own.

Having a somewhat of a grasp on basic electronics I have recently set out to figure out how to do that.

Turns out it is not so easy.  There is not website, that I have found so far that one can just log onto and and wa-la  this is how you build a synthesizer from scratch.  It is like there are all these little scraps of information lying around that have to be assembled into some kind of coherent structure.

Balance

Interesting how the pendulum of change is ever swinging. It has been a long time since I have had anything meaningful to do with music. In fact I was sick of it, done. Just as I was sick of teaching. However, a hook always remained in my soul, occasionally tugged on by people have been dear to me for a long, long time.

During our time in Phoenix, a few musical things came out, in slow erratic and tortured, tiny advances.

The video below was one of the better examples...it was actually a complimentary effort with the disciplines I was learning at MMI. It was the first time I had truly embraced the ideas of Kenny Werner and his "Effortless Mastery" techniques. Although simple in technique the piece was worked through slowly and carefully and with something burning to be said. Listening to it a year later is has, for me, power and meaning.

But I digress, as I was saying the last few years I have been obsessed with motorcycles and travel and writing and once again fame. Now, working long hours at Santa Fe BMW Motorcycles I feel my life being absorbed by a life I am finding less and less attractive.

After two years of the agony of cognitive dissonance between exactly what course of action to take, i.e. travel writing or music.  With limited time available it seems like I can pursue only one in addition to my work duties.

It seems, however, that the time has come to pursue music once again after all.   I am guided in in this preliminary assessment by the evidence that a tiny bit of energy put forward in the direction of music recently (See previous post) has brought some more opportunities.  Getting ready for this next opportunity has taken most of my energy for the last few days, including most of my precious weekend and I am already feeling on the edge of burnout.   This new enthusiasm for music is therefore fragile and requires me to proceed with balance.

Not my strongest suit, but I will keep you posted

Dipping into Santa Fe

One week has rolled uncomfortably into another since we arrive here in Santa Fe in September. That has been what, 10 months now and I have been working, pretty much without relief at Santa Fe BMW. Over the last two years I have tortured myself relentlessly, trying to rebuild the past.

Most notably the torture has been between being a travel writer and a musician. God I have so much baggage with being a musician.

Jumping ahead, yesterday I went down to El Farol which is having a blues jam, to sign up for tonights jam. Yet it was so crowded and we were on the motorcycle that I could not bring myself to the issue of parking and going inside. FEAR----

And I am still fearful, I still want to go tonight, but I fear the unknown. What if I can't park, what if I can't play, do I need my own equipment? How long have I been our to circulation?

I am getting a strong feeling that music is something I should pursue.

Also found the ugly side of Santa Fe Tourism yesterday on Canyon road and was very repulsed and intimidated by it. God those horrible tourist trollies...Ugh!


---------

Went to the jam, had some good players in the band and found the well-heeled-aging Santa Fe hippie crowd. Also met up with some of the motorcycle wanna be yuppies who come into shop.
Anyway, that is another story.

Actually felt pretty relaxed sitting in the back of the room with Patti may love and adventure partner. Trying to breath in and out evenly and remember my Kenny Werner lessons.

Interesting how I responded under pressure...not pressure so much because I was actually pretty relaxed, but progress from my old habits...not so much.  Have not internalized my Effortless Mastery lessons too well?

Back to the drawing board...or really back to the meditation room